# NTSB NYC92FA150: Cessna 340, N194S, Falmouth, KY, August 8, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1992, 21:50 local (Aug 8, 1992, 01:50 UTC)
- Place: Falmouth, KY
- Coordinates: 38.669902, -84.330841 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6699&lon=-84.3308&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37068
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92FA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37068/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92FA150

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER DECISION BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS RESULTING IN A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT INADVERTENT SPIRAL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE; THE PILOT'S LACK OF FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE; AND HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS OWN ABILITY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spiral - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS CRUISING AT 16,500 FEET AT NIGHT WHEN RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT WERE LOST.  THE PILOT MADE NO DISTRESS RADIO CALLS.  RECORDED RADAR DATA SHOWED THE AIRPLANE IN A LEFT DESCENDING TURN.  OTHER AIRPLANES WERE DEVIATING AROUND WEATHER IN THE AREA.  GROUND WITNESSES HEARD THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO IMPACT AND REPORTED RAIN.  THE PILOT STARTED FLYING LESSONS IN MARCH AND RECEIVED HIS MULTI-ENGINE RATING IN JUNE.  HE HAD A TOTAL OF 142 HOURS FLIGHT TIME, WITH 25 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE AND 9 HOURS TOTAL NIGHT TIME.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N194S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N194S-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 340-0167, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340
- Registry model: [Cessna 340](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340) (registry code 2076404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3400167
- Airframe hours: 2762
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-K 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Marketplace America, Inc.
- Registered owner: Marketplace America, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1992, 20 hours before
- Departed: MCN, MACON, GA
- Destination: GRR, GRAND RAPIDS, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 142 total, 25 in this make and model, 76 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920807029709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920807029709A), Aug 7, 1992: Cessna 340CESSNA, Falmouth, KY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed into wooded hillside,IFR conditions,no flight plan. Pilot low time multi engine,no instrument rating.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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